Recording device



June 8, 1937. H. M. JONES 2,082,893

RECORDING DEVICE Filed July 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q ZZ fZ7 June 8, 1937. H. M. JONES RECORDING DEVICE Fi-led July 23, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 8, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Y 9 claims.

, This invention relates to recording devices,

and more particularly to devices of the kymograph type wherein a Vrecord is made on a moving card.

One feature of this invention is that the movement of the card is accurately timed, being driven by a synchronous motor; another feature of this invention is that the motor is operative only when the card and carrier are in position in the l0 device; yet another feature of this invention is that the current to the driving motor is turned off when the card has traveled a predetermined course and reached the end thereof; a further feature of this invention is that the card` and carrier may be readily moved back to the beginning of the course; other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following specification and the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation ofthe device; Fig. 2 is a top view, partly in section; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 4--4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is still anotherl horizontal sectional view, along the line 5--5 of Fig. 4; Fig.

6 is a fragmentary detailed view of the rack, pinion, and switch means; Fig. 7 is a schematic wiring diagram; and Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modii'led form.

This invention comprises a housing with a slot adapted to receive the rack of a carrier in which the kymograph card is mounted. A pen or other means is provided for tracing the record of some movement on the card, and thus providing a permarient record. A pinion is used to control the movement of the rack, and the pinion is in turn driven and controlled by a synchronous electric motor having its circuit completed through a switch engaging the rack. In this way the cir- 40 cuit to the motor is not completed untilthe carrier having the card is inserted in operative position, and then it moves slowly through its predetermined course at a rate determined by the synchronous motor. At the end of the course .i5 the rack disengages from the switch means and opens the circuit to the motor, thus stopping further motion and leaving the carrier in a position where it maybe examined, or from which the card may be removed.

The kymograph apparatus disclosed and claimed herein may, of course, be used with any device wherein it is desired to make a time rec'- ord, as of temperature, barometric pressure, or the like. The present device was. however, 55 specifically designed for use in connection with a machine for measuring the rate of metabolism, of the character more fully described in my application Ser. No. 78,942. i

In the particular embodiment of this invention illustrated herewith a carrier I0 is adapted 5 to have mounted thereon and carried thereby a card II on which the desired record is traced by the pen I2 moved transversely of the card by extraneous means not here shown, since such means form no part of the present invention. 10 The card I I is moved longitudinally by the mechanism provided therefor at a relatively slow but unvarying rate, so that the transverse `movements of the pen leave a record on the card which may be read against time.

A housing I3 is provided for the driving and control mechanism, and this housing has a face I4, slot I5, and studs I5 which cooperate to form guide means for the carrier I0. Immediately within the housing I3 and adjacent the slot I 5 is a pinion I'I and switch means I8. The carrier I0 has thereon a rack I9 adapted to be slipped into the slot I5 at one end thereof and to slide therealong. Referring more particularly to the detailed view in Fig. 6, it will be seen that the toothed portion'of the rack I9 is adapted to engage the pinion Il on one side thereof and the switch means I8 on the other side thereof.

In addition to the pinion and switch means heretofore referred to, the housing I3 contains a synchronous electric motor or driving means 20 for the pinion I'I, operatively connected thereto through the reduction gear train 2 I; a pilot light 22 adapted to illuminate an indicator 23 visible from without the housing when the circuit through the motor 2U is completed; and a manual switch 24 operated by the knob V25. The connection between the reduction gearing 2I and the pinion I'I is through the ratchet 26, so that the pinion may be revolved .in a direction permitting therack to move upwardly without having to drive the rotor of the motor 20 through the gear train. This synchronous motor is of the ordinary commercial type, adapted to be operated at a definite speed by commercial A. C. cur'- rent supplied to the device through the cord 21. Mounting means for mounting the kymograph device on the apparatus adapted to drive the pinion I2 is here shown as a pipe or tube 28 adjacent the cord. Referring more particularly to Fig. '7, it will be seen that the current supplied through the leads or cord 21 is connected to the motor 20 and the'. light 22 in parallel, but controlled by `the two switch means I8 and 24. Since these switches are in series, it is necessary for both of them to be closed before the motor is rendered operative. That is, the carrier may be inserted in operative position in the slot I5, but it will not move until the manual switch 24 is closed; conversely, the manual switch may be closed, but the motor will not run unless the carrier and rack are engaged with the pinion. Thus a device is provided wherein the motor cannot be left running accidentally when the carrier is not in operative position, yet wherein the carrier may be placed in position and not started until desired by manual operation of the knob 25.

Operation of the device may be described as follows: A card II is placed in position on the carrier I 0, and the rack I9 thereof is then slipped into the top of the slot I5. As the rack drops downward into operative position it engages the switch means I8 and closes the circuit therethrough and then engages the pinion I'I, where it rests until the manual switch 24 is closed. As soon as this. switch is closed the circuit to the driving motor is completed and rotation thereof permits the carrier to move slowly downwardly along the guide means. In this connection it will be noted that the pinion does not actually drive the carrier means, but rather controls its movement. The weight of the carrier and card is such that when itis placed on a vertical guide means with very little frictional resistance it tends to slip or move downwardly, and the pinion in reality holds it in position and controls its movement without having to exert any driving force. This is an advantage since the small synchronous motor does not develop a great deal of power and thus could no-t be used to overcome much resistance. While gravity is used to cause the carrierito tend to move in the desired direction in the preferred form of this invention illustrated in Figs. 1-6, the modification of Fig. 8, wherein the carrier is horizontal, uses a spring 29 to create the desired tension or tendency of the carrier to move.

'I'he switch means I8 is located slightly in advance of the pinion I'I, that is, in position such that the rack engages the switch slightly before it engages the pinion, and disengages therefrom while it is still engaged with the pinion. It will be thus seen that when the carrier and card have traveled through their predetermined course, determined by the length of the rack, the switch I8 will disengage from the rack by slipping olf the end thereof, thus opening the circuit to the motor and rendering it inoperative, whereupon the pinion stops its movement and the carrier hangs suspended therefrom. In order to insure this suspension of the rack at the end of its course, it is provided with a projection 30 extending out slightly beyond the remaining teeth, so that it could not go past the pinion. This end of the rack, beside the projection 30, is provided with an inclination 3l adapted to engage the switch means I8 when the rack is pulled back up into its beginning position, to prevent the switch means jamming against the end of the rack. This upward motion is facilitated by the ratchet means 26 heretofore referred to which permits the pinion II to rotate idly when the carrier is drawn upward. Referring more particularly to Fig. 6, it will be seen that the switch means I3, in addition to being in advance of the pinion I'I, is slightly offset from the plane thereof. Thus the projection 30 does not strike the switch means 'when the carrier is drawn upward past it.

vWhile I have shown and deslbed Certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in th'e appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A recording device of the character described for driving a card adapted to have the record traced thereon, including: a carrier for said card; guide means for said carrier; a rack on said carrier; apinion adapted to be engaged by said rack; electrically operated driving means for said pinion; and switch means adapted to be engaged by said rack for completing the circuit to said driving means, whereby said driving means is operative only when said switch is contacted by said rack. Y

2. A recording device of the character described for driving a card adapted to have the record traced thereon, including: a carrier for said card; guide means for said carrier; a rack on said carrier; a pinion adapted to be engaged by said carrier; electrically operated driving means for said pinion; switch means adapted to be engaged by said rack for completing the circuit to said driving means; and a second switch in series with said switch means.

3. A recording device of the character described for driving a card adapted to have the record traced thereon, including: a carrier for said card; guide means for said carrier; a rack on said carrier; a pinion adapted to be engaged by said carrier; ratchet-means adjacent said pinion; electrically operated driving means for said pinion, said means being connected to said pinion through said ratchet means; and switch means adapted to be engaged by said rack for completing the circuit to said driving means, whereby said driving means is operated only when said switch is contacted by said rack.

4. A recording device of the character described ior driving a card adapted to have the record traced thereon, including: guide means; a carrier so constructed and arranged as to move along said guide means; means for controlling the motion of said carrier, said means including a pinion engaged by a rack on said carrier; electrically operated driving means for said pinion; and switch means adapted to be engaged by said rack for completing the circuit to said driving means, whereby said driving means is operative only when said switch is contacted by said rack.

5. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 4, wherein said switch means is in advance of said pinion, whereby said driving means is rendered inoperative before said rack disengages from said pinion.

6. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 4, wherein a spring tends to move said carrier along said guide means.

'7. A recording device of the character described for driving a card adapted to have the record tra-ced thereon, including: a carrier for Said card; vertical guide means for said carrier, said means having a vertical slot therethrough; a rack on said carrier adapted to project through said slot; a pinion adapted to be engaged by said rack; electrically operated driving means for rotating said pinion; and switch means in advance of said pinion adapted to be engaged by said rack and completing the circuit to said driving '7, wherein the top of said rack has on one side means, whereby said driving means is operative thereof a projection adapted to engage said pinonly when said switch is contacted by said rack. ion, and on the other side thereof an inclination 8. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim adapted to permit said rack to be drawn up- 7, wherein said circuit is completed through a wardly past said switch means.

second switch.

9. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim HORRY M. JONES. 

